a line away

USAGE SUMMARY

"a line away" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate proximity or distance, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "The store is just a line away from my house." Alternative expressions include "a step away" and "a short distance away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He was onside because one opponent, Robben, lagged behind his colleagues as they moved in a line away from the Munich net.

The New York Times - Sports

3.2, we compute the attracting slow manifold (S^{a}_{varepsilon }) by starting from a line away from the fold curve F and ending at a three-dimensional submanifold.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

Rather than run in a line away from the dog, scatter in all directions, or follow their nearest neighbors, the sheep all hurried toward the flock's center.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Tells about a trial in Texas which eventually forced the power company involved to spend $8 1/2 million to reroute a power line away from a school.

The New Yorker

That means that it's moving along a trajectory that is only slightly curved (almost a straight line) away from the solar system.

Cornell University

And so, if, as some say, the body so moved is fire, this movement is just as unnatural to it as downward movement; for any one can see that fire moves in a straight line away from the centre.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Once a beetle has found some dung and rolled part of it into a ball, he's got to get it out of there, rolling it in a straight line away from the dung pile, or the other beetles will come and poach it.

The New York Times - Science

It is a fine line away from the zone of genius, the mental state in which you will actually thrive.

Forbes

It's opened my eyes to a harsh reality that a part of me still doesn't want to believe: Could we could be a fault line away from history repeating itself?

Huffington Post

This cross-immunity kernel directly favors moving along a diagonal line away from previous strains.

BMC Biology

If random movement is not present, movement is effectively in a straight line away from the origin and the msd increases quadratically with time.

Biology Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a line away" to create a sense of anticipation or slight separation, especially when describing abstract concepts or metaphorical distances. This phrase works effectively when you want to suggest that something is both near and yet still distinct or not fully realized.

Common error

Avoid using "a line away" in purely physical contexts where more direct measures of distance are appropriate. For example, instead of saying "The store is a line away", specify "The store is two blocks away" to avoid confusing your reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a line away" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate proximity or nearness, often in a metaphorical sense. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is considered a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a line away" is a versatile expression used to indicate proximity or nearness, often with a metaphorical or figurative connotation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct. It is most commonly found in news, media, and scientific contexts. While not overly formal, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various audiences. Alternative phrases such as ""a short distance from"" or ""just around the corner"" can be used depending on the desired nuance. When using "a line away", avoid literal interpretations and focus on its suggestive quality to enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short distance from

Emphasizes physical proximity or nearness; more literal than "a line away".

just around the corner

Implies very close proximity, often used metaphorically; suggests convenience.

not far off

Suggests closeness without specifying exact distance; can be used metaphorically.

in close proximity

More formal way of indicating nearness; lacks the figurative sense of "a line away".

a stone's throw away

Indicates a short distance, but less precise than "a line away"; more colloquial.

within spitting distance

Informal way to indicate close proximity; less formal than "a line away".

in the vicinity of

Indicates general proximity to an area or location; more formal than "a line away".

a hair's breadth from

Indicates a very narrow margin or close call; emphasizes potential for change.

a hop, skip, and a jump from

Informal way to indicate a short, easily traversable distance.

on the verge of

Implies being close to a state or event; less about physical distance.

FAQs

How can I use "a line away" in a sentence?

You can use "a line away" to describe something that is close, but not immediately present. For example: "Success is just "a line away" if you keep trying."

What does "a line away" mean?

"A line away" is an idiomatic expression signifying that something is within reach or nearly attainable, suggesting proximity without direct contact. It can refer to physical or metaphorical distance.

What are some alternatives to "a line away"?

Alternatives include "a short distance from", "just around the corner", or "within spitting distance", depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is "a line away" a formal or informal expression?

"A line away" leans towards a neutral register, suitable for both general writing and conversation. It's less formal than "in close proximity" but more so than highly colloquial expressions.